NTR Kousuke

Chapter 9

Every person has their own position.

Especially among girls, this is strongly felt.

The term "caste" is often used, and I think it's quite fitting.

I keenly realized this in fifth grade.

To achieve that, there are many things you need.

I used to be an unremarkable, plain girl. I had confidence in my raw potential, but that was it.

While tidying up my room, I recall a bit of the past...

Back in fifth grade.

I was the kind of girl who looked like a literary type—called neat at best, plain at worst—and after a class reshuffle, I joined the group of the grade's most talented and beautiful girl, the Flawless Girl "Reina Kashii," who lived relatively close to my house.

("That" Reina Kashii acknowledged me!)

After all, Reina Kashii isn't just the central figure in our class but the most versatile beauty in the entire grade, with tons of fans, an overwhelming presence, and exceptional leadership!

With her influence and charisma, all sorts of requests and troubles come her way.

We in the Reina Kashii group are often busy handling those issues, but the way kids who ask for help or those in lower castes look at us is a little different.

A sense of superiority? I can't help but feel it!

The Reina Kashii group consists of Reina Kashii as the leader, her rival and best friend No. 2 Obata-san, the academically brilliant beauty Ichijou-san, the athletically gifted and cute Futamura-san, and me.

I've heard people call me a gentle, bookish, plain beauty. I heard it from a second-tier girl.

The moment I step forward, they abruptly stop talking.

I'm the kind of girl they can't say things to directly.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

When I smile softly,

The girl says, "...No, thanks for the other day."

Did you remember that I talked to Kashii-san and helped out with various things?

I understand how second-tier girls feel; first-tier girls just shine so much brighter. But plain beauty... sure, the word beauty is there, but I'm not satisfied with this position.

Now, when it comes to girls' topics, love is inseparable. Even in fifth grade, the excitement over who likes who, which boy is cute, with all the squeals, is incredibly strong.

There was a girl in our class, not first-tier but part of Kashii-san's group, who liked the most popular boy in class, Kanzaki-kun, and since she often talked to Kashii-san due to her position, she asked her to mediate.

She declared, "I like Atsuki Kanzaki-kun!" and even made Kashii-san declare, "I don't feel anything for Kanzaki-kun!"

What an opportunity! Around that time, I had my eye on a certain boy.

Kousuke-kun from Kanzaki-kun's group, Saitou Kousuke-kun!

He doesn't stand out, but I noticed he's the one actually running the Kanzaki group!

Kousuke-kun is plain but excels in academics, has great athletic ability, and has an incredibly well-defined face! He has a cute face, almost like a girl's!

He's athletically gifted, quiet, and cool! A bit on the shorter side, but I'm looking forward to his growth in the future!

Usually, he goes along with his best friend Tachibana-kun, talking about silly things, but he's definitely cool!

Tying it to the earlier incident with the girl who wanted to get close to Kanzaki-kun, I decided to ask Kashii-san, saying, "Actually... I..."

If she could create some kind of opportunity... I can't approach a boy out of nowhere!

Then Kashii-san said,

Kashii: "Let's have a Christmas party at my house!"

What!?

Amazing! It's like something trendy people do, right? Something cool people pull off!

Kashii-san's versatility is unreal! Maybe Kashii-san can make anything happen?! The girl who likes Kanzaki-kun and I got a bit selfish with our requests.

I want to sit next to him! I want her to praise me in front of him! Please help with all sorts of support!

My best friend Obata-san also stepped in and even arranged for the gift exchange to ensure I get his gift. Incredible!

I'm impressed by Kashii-san's generosity and planning skills in accepting everything. And when I visited her house for the meeting, I was stunned by its luxury. Is she a young lady?

But, you know, I'm a bit bothered by how blessed Kashii-san is.

I've worked hard to become cute and studied diligently, so why?

Why is Kashii-san so beautiful and cute? So smart and athletically gifted?

Cooking? Piano? She can do anything and gets pampered by everyone like a princess...?

I was a bit bothered, but since she's done so much for me... right?

After all, I'm a member of the Kashii group.

...For now, I'll observe Kashii-san closely, learn from her, and absorb everything!

At the Christmas party, I sat next to Kousuke-kun and talked with him comfortably!

He's shy and was flustered by my approach, which was cute!

We exchanged contact info, and as planned, my gift, a snow globe, ended up in Kousuke-kun's hands, while I received his gift, a cute blue flower gift that lights up with LEDs, like a bouquet! So cute! I'm so happy!

Kousuke-kun has great taste.

With this, I got a foothold with Kousuke-kun and gradually closed the distance.

In sixth grade, we went through events like the sports festival, school trip, and cultural festival.

Our Kashii-san group and, among the boys, Kanzaki-kun's group ran the class. Kanzaki-kun's group has a lot of rowdy kids, so planning and execution were mostly handled by Kousuke-kun. While Kashii-san is the center of our group, she made sure to pair me with Kousuke-kun.

Since I started observing Kashii-san closely, I've noticed various things.

Despite her high abilities, Kashii-san often doesn't take the lead openly. Rather than standing at the forefront, she prefers to lead by example or influence others to resolve conflicts or change the atmosphere.

Because of her cuteness and abilities, she's often envied, so is she too bound by the justification of "for everyone's sake"?

If I were Kashii-san, I'd do things more freely and confidently!

With such high specs, it's a waste. As a friend, I feel it's a shame, but well, it's her choice, right?

Still, that humble attitude, hiding her true feelings and acting for "everyone's sake" as a justification, and maintaining a refined demeanor for better reception—these are things worth learning from!

They call me a plain beauty, but when I get to junior high! When I become an adult, I'll be even more beautiful! And then...

And so, I graduated from elementary school and entered junior high.

At the end of the second semester, the central figure among the boys in our class, Kanzaki-kun, transferred schools, and Kousuke-kun was shocked by it.

While supporting him through that, I gradually got closer to him.

The annoying thing is Kousuke-kun's best friend, Tachibana-kun!

This guy is always getting in the way.

He's always talking nonsense with Kousuke-kun and, more often than not, hangs out with him on weekends.

That cool Kousuke-kun gets fired up when Tachibana-kun is involved.

I'm annoyed by that! His little sister also constantly pesters Kousuke-kun, so the Tachibana siblings are such a nuisance.

...But since Kousuke-kun really likes the Tachibana siblings, I absolutely don't show it on my face.

After all, they're always getting excited over silly things like manliness, loyalty, warlords, or strategists? Sure, Kousuke-kun has a childish side too, which I think is cute, though?

And then, upon entering junior high, we started dating!

After graduation day, I hinted, "What is our relationship...?"

Kousuke: "...Mishima-san... no, Satsuki-san! Please go out with me!"

Yes! It feels like I made him say it, but Kousuke-kun confessed to me, and we started dating.

He came out about something like a stutter? Stuttering? But it's not showing now, right? I looked it up later, and it's not necessarily hereditary, and many outgrow it as they age.

If it's not showing now, it's fine, right? But it seems to be a complex for him... hmm.

Anyway... since we're dating, I told him not to dote on Tachibana's little sister too much, okay? After all, she's a girl, and since Kousuke-kun has a girlfriend, he shouldn't get too close to other girls! He blushed bright red and nodded.

Hehe! Read the room, Tachibana's little sister!

Kousuke-kun and I went to the terminal station to hang out during spring break!

He bought me an outfit, and since we're starting junior high, we got some extra stationery.

We gifted each other ballpoint pens.

☆ ☆ ☆

"I remember things like that, huh."

I carelessly stuff the blue flower gift, the ballpoint pen he bought me when we entered junior high, and the outfit I can no longer wear that he got me back then into a trash bag.

Not too long ago, these were treasures to me (lol).

The next time we meet, I'll return this trash... no, these gifts, and cleanly end this relationship!

It's for both of our sakes!

Tidying up my room is going to take a bit longer.